Mustangs make more history at 2025 ITA Cup

ROME, Ga. — The Morningside men's and women's tennis teams are spending this weekend in Georgia making more history.

The Mustangs sent four players — Line Jensen, Brooke Marshall, Alexis Diaz, and Marcos Menendez Hervella — to the ITA Cup National Championships in Rome. Morningside was one of only two schools in its region with every singles and doubles entry reaching the main draw, and the program went a perfect 18-0 in first-round matches between men and women.

"It's really rewarding, and I think we can learn a lot that'll help us have a strong spring season," said head coach Alex Struck. "It's quite an accomplishment, and this will last with me forever. You have to believe it to achieve it, and they definitely believed in their abilities."

Jensen went back-to-back, claiming her second women's singles title. Her first-round win on Thursday marked the first time in Great Plains Athletic Conference history that a player has done so at the ITA Cup.

Struck said Jensen's growth comes from how she manages points and creates scoring opportunities.

"She just gets smarter on the court — knowing what shot to hit and when to attack or rally," Struck said. "The biggest thing is how she handles pressure. She just takes care of business. She loves to compete and has had a couple of really good seasons of growth. She's used to high-level competition."

Jensen and Marshall, last year's regional semifinalists, broke through two weeks ago to win the first women's doubles championship in school history.

"Brooke brings a lot of energy, and she plays off Line very well," Struck said. "They bring out the best in each other. The key is not forcing the issue but staying composed — our best moments come from a solid cross-court return."

On the men's side, Diaz captured the program's first-ever men's singles title, while Menendez finished runner-up — which had been Morningside's best finish before this weekend. The two then teamed up to win the men's doubles championship, another program first.

Both reached the quarterfinals last season before carrying that momentum into this fall's ITA Regional in Salina, Kansas, where they earned their national bids.

"They've played each other a lot back and forth," Struck said. "To see them both rewarded is well-deserved. Marcos is very crafty, while Alexis has really improved his volleys. They've learned how to merge their singles styles into their doubles play and move together on the court."